Off-Track

Packers star named Kansas Speedway pace car driver

Despite the month of May falling right in the heart of the NFL's offseason, one of the league's brightest spots at the wide receiver position is set to have all the attention turned to him when he leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field to green in the Kansas Speedway pace car on May 10.

Green Bay Packers star Jordy Nelson, a Kansas native, will drive the Toyota Highlander pace car for Kansas Speedway's inaugural Sprint Cup night race as part of Toyota's official partnership with the track.

"Getting the chance to drive alongside some of the greatest racers in the world is truly a dream come true," said Nelson, according to a track release. "I couldn’t think of a better place to do it than at my home-state track, Kansas Speedway."

In addition to his stellar Packers career -- which includes an eye-popping stat line of nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay's Super Bowl XLV win over the Pittsburgh Steelers -- Nelson is one of the most prolific football players in Kansas State University history. He went from being a walk-on safety as a freshman to earning consensus All-America honors. He was named to nine first-team All-America squads in 2007 as a senior and was also a Biletnikoff Award finalist. The Biletnikoff Award is given annually to the top receiver in the nation.

In 2008, Nelson was selected in the second round of the NFL draft, and became the first top-40 selection from K-State since 2003.

On Feb. 17, 2011, Nelson was honored with "Jordy Nelson Day" in Kansas, which was declared by Gov. Sam Brownback.

Be sure to tune in on May 10 to see Nelson and the stars of the Sprint Cup Series hit the track at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

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